Clasp for loose-leaf ledgers.



No'. 861,198. ,Y 1 PATBNTLD JULY 2s, 1907.

J. L. TAYLOR.

CLASP FOR LOOSE LEAP LBDGERS. APPLIOATIoN FILED 112B. ze, 190s.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

JOHN L. TAYLOR, OF BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO ATKINSON, MENTZER d' GROVER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CLASP FOR LOOSE-LEAF LEDGERS.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Benton Harbor, in the county of Berrien and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Clasps for Loose- Leaf Ledgers, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciication.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in clasps for loose leaf ledgers, and the object of the invention is to produce a simple and efficient means which may be readily attached to a book or the back thereof and so arranged as to conveniently hold leaves which may be detachably held to the clasp.

My invention comprises various details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically defined in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this application, and in which Figure I is a perspective view showing the application of my device to the back of a ledger or book. Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the device centrally and longitudinally. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the plate, and Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the spring clasp arms.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates a plate of metal having ends recessed out forming two arms B at each end thereof along the longitudinal marginal edges thereof. The sides of the plate intermediate said arms are bent to form flanges C which are adapted to engage the back D of a book and coperate with said arms which are bent in the manner shown in the drawings, to securely fasten the device to the back of a cover to adapt it to hold loose leaves. It will be noted that the central portion of said plate is struck up, forming a strap E with a slot underneath the same for the reception of a spring 'F which is securely fastened to the inner face of said strap with its ends extending the length of the plate and intermediate said arms. The inner face of each arm adjacent to its inner end is indentured as at K along the inner marginal edges of the arms forming bearings for the reception of the oppositely extending lugs N which are formed upon the opposite edges of the curved arms NC Said arms N/ have projecting portions O at their inner ends which are adapted to bear against the surface of said spring, causing the arms to be held either in closed interl'ocked positions or at their Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led February 26.1906. Serial No. 802,962.

Patented July 23, 1907.

farthest outward throw. One of said arms has a notch Q, in its free end while the other has a lug Q adapted to enter said notch as the two clasps are held closed by means of said spring.

In applying my device, the plate of which is struck up from a single piece of metal by any suitable means, the arms are bent about a portion of the back of a covering for the ledger leaves, the latter being perforated along one of their marginal edges to receive said arms which are sprung open for their reception, after which the arms are closed and the removable loose ledger leaves are temporarily held by the device to the cover of the book. Whenever it is desired to remove a leaf or leaves, the arms may be sprung back under the tension of said spring as willbe readily understood.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

. 1. A clasp for loose leaf ledgers comprising a plate having integral arms projecting therefrom designed to be beni.' about aportion of the back of a cover and ilanges along the edges of the plate designed to cooperate with said arms to hold the plate securely to the cover, and spring-actuated arms adapted to receive loose ledger leaves, as set forth.

2. A clasp for loose leaf ledgers comprising a plate having integral arms projecting therefrom designed to be bent about a portion of the back of a cover and flanges along the edges of the plate designed to coperate with said arms, to hold the plate securely to'the cover, a strap upset from the plate with a space intermediate the same and the surface ofthe plate, a spring held in said space, and pivotal arms held by said spring either in open or closed positions, as set forth.

3. A clasp for loose leaf ledgers comprising a plate having integral arms projecting therefrom designed to be bent about a portion of the back of a cover and flanges along the edges of the plate designed to coperate with said arms to hold the plate securely to the cover, a strap upset from the plate with a space intermediate the same and the surface of the plate, a spring held in said space, arms having lugs projecting from the opposite edges thereof journaled upon said plate and having projecting portions bearing against said spring, as set forth.

4. A clasp for loose leaf ledgers comprising a plate having integral arms projecting therefrom designed to be bent about a portion of the back of a cover' and flanges along the edges of the plate designed to coperate with said arms to hold the plate securely to the cover, a strap upset from the plate with a space intermediate the same and the surface of the plate, a spring held in said space, curved arms having laterally projecting lugs thereon having bearings in indentures formed in one face of the plate, and projections upon said arms bearing against said spring, the free ends of said arms adapted to interlock as they are closed, as set forth.

5. A clasp for loose leaf ledgers comprising a plate 'having integral arms projecting therefrom designed to be bent about a portion of the back of a cover and flanges along the edges of the plate designed to coperate with said arms to hold the plate securely to the cover, a strap upset from tne plate with a space intermediate the same and the surface of the plate, a spring held in said space, curved arms having lugs projecting from the opposite edges thereof near their inner ends and having bearings in indentures formed y punched-up portion and the body Vof the plate, and clasp members N', N pivotally connected with the base plate near the ends thereof and having projecting lugs O, O arranged to act against the end portions of said spring.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 29th day of November A. D., 1905.

JOHN L. TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

A. M. BELFIELD, I. C. LEE. 

